Taiwan’s 506-metre Taipei 101 has become the tallest building in the world to receive LEED Platinum status, the top level in the green building rating system.

Previously the world’s tallest building at 509 metres, Taipei 101 is now the second tallest building in the world after the 828-metre Burj Khalifa.

The tower was retrofitted with green technology and processes to achieve LEED EBOM, the accreditation for existing buildings.

As well as becoming the world’s tallest green building it is also the largest scale building to acquire LEED Platinum status, with a total area of 148,645m2.

The retrofit was carried out through a partnership between electronics giant Siemens, interior designers Steven Leach Associates and EcoTech International.

Speaking at a press conference, Mark MacCracken, chairman of the board, US Green Building Council, added: “The USGBC knows that the retrofitting of buildings will have to happen to make a dent in the greening of the planet. There are now no excuses. With Taipei 101 there is no model in the world that is bigger or taller. This is a monumental event.”

Dr Sang Dae Kim, chairman of the board of trustees, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, added: “Although tall buildings are commonly known as unsustainable, this building is setting an example on what tall buildings can do in terms of sustainability.”